Buckle



Oct. 13, 1953 Q P. w. WHITE 2,654,928 I I BUCKLE I Filed Oct. 17, 1950 INVENTOR.

m3, I a K" 34 3 Paul W W/zzie z w mww diys Patented Oct. 13, 1953 BUCKLE Paul W. White, New Haven, Conn., assignor to Parva Products Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application October 1'7, 1950, Serial No. 190,461

Claims.

This invention relates to slide buckles, more particularly to slide buckles designed for use on shoes and the like, specifically ladies shoes, and theinvention has for an object the provision of improved slide buckles of this character.

It has long been recognized by shoe manufacturers and shoe retailers, as well as by the feminine purchasing public, that slide buckles, if embodying the same advantages as to ease of threading and freedom from slippage would be tremendously superior to conventional prong type buckles, due to the universality of slide buckle adjustment and the elimination of the necessity of providing properly spaced rong receiving holes in the shoe straps. The fact that it is often necessary to punch or otherwise form additional holes in a shoe strap when fitting the shoes to a prospective customer and that the shoes may thereafter be rejected and even returned after purchase has been a major source of loss to the retailers of shoes, since in many cases the extra holes render the shoes unsalable. Furthermore, instances arise due to the temporary condition of the feet of the wearer when additional holes must be provided in order to permit wearing of the shoes, which additional holes are unsightly after the feet have returned to a normal condition.

The difficulties, however, involved in the provision of small and attractive slide buckles which will accommodate shoe straps of different thicknesses and which will not slip when subjected to the varying degrees of tension that occur during normal movements of the foot, have heretofore been prohibitive, and consequently prong type buckles with all of their inherent disadvantages have been used almost exclusively on ladies shoes.

Accordingly, it is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved slide buckle for ladies shoes which may be easily threaded and adjusted, which will securely hold straps of varying thicknesses against slippage under varying degrees of tension, which is attractive in appearance, and which will add to the comfort and convenience of the wearer.

In carrying out the invention in one form, a slide buckle is provided including a pair of cooperating strap engaging cross bars, one of which includes a strap engaging surface inclined rela tive to the path of movement of the cross bars to effect a wedge-like clamping of a strap between the two cross bars upon relative sliding movement thereof when the strap is tensioned, and the inclined surface on one of the cross bars is provided at its forward edge with an abrupt shoulder extending substantially at right angles to the path of movement of the cross bars, which shoulder is disposed in the path of movement of the other cross bar to provide a positive limit to the relative movement of the cross bars even though the strap is subjected to excessive tension.

More specifically, the slide buckle provides a pair of frames having alignable strap receiving openings therethrough and the cross bar having the inclined surface and abrupt shoulder defines the front edge of the strap receiving opening in one of the frames, While the other strap engaging cross bar defines the rear edge of the strap receiving opening in the other of the frames, and guide means are provided on the two frames disposed substantially entirely rearwardly of the strap receiving openings for slidably maintaining the frames in face-to-face relation, whereby the clampingportions of the frames forwardly of the guide means are unrestrained against limited lateral separation when the strap is tensioned.

Preferably the frames are formed of sheet metal so that flexure of the frames at their forward portions to effect the limited lateral separation thereof under tension is effective to lock the strap in clamped position to prevent slippage during momentary releases of the tension.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference should now be had to the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a buckle embodying the present invention applied to a strap such as is commonly found on ladies shoes;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the buckle and strap shown in Fig; 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view showing the buckle and strap applied to the foot of a wearer of the shoe;

Fig. 4 is an exploded plan view showing the frames of the buckle in disassembled relation; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are longitudinal vertical sectional views showing the buckle and strap in threaded and clamping positions, respectively.

Referring now to the drawing, the invention is shown as embodied in a buckle l0 which comprises a main frame H and a second frame or slide l2. As shown, the main frame ll includes a forward portion having a strap receiving opening [3 which is defined by a front cross bar [4, a second cross bar l5, and opposed side bar portions 16 and I1. Rearwardly of the strap receiving opening 43 and extending from opposed ends of the cross bar 15 are a pair of side bar portions l8 and I9 which terminate in a strap attaching advantages of the prong type buckles commonly usedon ladies shoes without any of the disadvantages. It will be understood, of course, that after the strap has been pulled up tight and released to permit the above described clamping action, the free end of the strap portion 35 may be inserted behind the hold-down bar 2|, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the relative relation of the strap portions and the buckle ID to the flesh of the wearer when the strap is under tension is illustrated, and it will be observed that the lateral arcuate curvature of the front cross bars 26 and M on the slide 12 and the frame ll provides a maximum clearance between the edges of the buckle and the fiesh of the wearer's foot so that engagement of the buckle edges with the flesh of the wearer is minimized, thereby avoiding undue discomfort.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and it is therefore contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A slide buckle comprising a pair of slidably engaged frames disposed in face-to-face relari-i tion, said frames having alignable strap-receiving openings therethrough, one of said frames having a front cross bar defining the front edge of said opening therein and including a portion inclined with respect to the path of relative movement of said frames, said inclined portion terminating in an abrupt shoulder extending substantially at right angles to said path of movement, the other of said frames having a cross bar defining the rear edge of said opening therein and including a strap-engaging portion movable under said inclined portion into juxtaposition with said shoulder to clamp a strap against said inclined portion and said shoulder, said shoulder providing a positive stop to limit the clamping movement of said frames under excess tension, and guide means on said frames disposed substantially entirely rearwardly of said openings for slidably maintaining said frames in said face-to-face relation for sliding movement in said path whereby the clamping portion of said frames forwardly of said guide means are unrestrained against limited lateral separation when the strap is tensioned.

2. A slide buckle comprising a pair of slidably engaged frames disposed in face-to-face relation, said frames having alignable strap-receiving openings therethrough, one of said frames having a front cross bar defining the front edge of said opening therein and including a portion inclined with respect to the path of relative movement of said frames, said inclined portion terminating in an abrupt shoulder extending substantially at right angles to said path of movement, the other of said frames having a cross bar defining the rear edge of said opening therein and including a strap-engaging portion movable under said inclined portion into juxtaposition with said shoulder to clamp a strap against said inclined portion and said shoulder,

said shoulder providing a positive stop to limit the clamping movement of said frames under excess tension, channel shaped guide means extending along opposed portions of one of said frames, and leg portions extending rearwardly 5 f from said opening in the other of said frames for cooperation with said guide means to maintain said frames in said face-to-face relation, said guide means on said one frame terminating adjacent the rear edge of the opening therein to leave the clamping portions of said frames forwardly of said openings free of restraint against limited lateral separation.

3. A slide buckle comprising a pair of slidably engaged frames formed of thin sheet metal and disposed in face-to-face relation, said frames having alignable strap-receiving openings therethrough, one of said frames having a front cross bar defining the front edge of said opening therein and including a portion inclined with respect to the path of relative movement of said frames, said inclined portion terminating in an abrupt shoulder extending substantially at right angles to said path of movement, the other of said frames having a cross bar defining the rear edge of said opening therein and including a strapengaging portion movable under said inclined portion into juxtaposition with said shoulder to clamp a strap against said inclined portion and said shoulder, said shoulder providing a positive stop to limit the clamping movement of said frames under excess tension, and guide means on said frames disposed substantially entirely rearwardly of said openings for slidably maintaining said frames in said face-to-face relation for sliding movement in said path whereby the clamping portions of said frames forwardly of said guide means are unrestrained against limited lateral separation when the strap is tensioned, whereby the application to the strap of tension sufiicient to clamp the strap firmly between said strap-engaging portion and said shoulder will cause relative lateral fiexure of said forward portions thereby to lock the strap in clamped position to prevent slippage upon momentary releases of the tension.

4. A slide buckle comprising a pair of slidably engaged frames formed of thin sheet metal and disposed in face-to-face relation, said frames having alignable strap-receiving openings therethrough, one of said frames having a front cross bar defining the front edge of said opening therein and including a portion inclined with respect to the path of relative movement of said frames, said inclined portion terminating in an abrupt shoulder extending substantially at right angles to said path of movement, the other of said frames having a cross bar defining the rear edge of said opening therein and including a strap-engaging portion movable under said inclined portion into juxtaposition with said shoulder to clamp a strap against said inclined portion and said shoulder, said shoulder providing a positive stop to limit the clamping movement of said frames under excess tension, channel shaped guides means extending along opposed portions of one of said frames, and leg portions extending rearwardly from said opening in the other of said frames for cooperation with said guide means to maintain said frames in said faceto-face relation, said guide means on said one frame terminating adjacent the rear edge of the opening therein to leave the clamping portions of said frames forwardly of said openings free of restraint against limited lateral separation, whereby the application to the strap of tension sufiicient to clamp the strap firmly between said strap-engaging portion and said shoulder will cause relative lateral fiexure of said forward portions thereby to lock the strap in clamped position 7 to; prevent: slippage: upon: momentam releasesuof: theetensionh 5,:Atslidahuckleicomprisin za pain-of slidablye nea edzframeszdisposed inifacegta-tface relation, said. frames; having; alignable straprreceiving opmingsstherethrough; tone-of said: frames-having;

a fmnt: arose-bar? defining thegwfront -.edge-0f.; said opening therein and including; a-, p ;ortion* inclined witiurespeet; to the-nath-of1 relative movement off Siiiiih frames; saidino1ined-: portion terminating; inzangabriigtg shoulder extending substa-ritially; at rightaanglesmo,saidipathzof movement; the other of; said, frameshaving; a.- crossl, bar defining; the

rear edge-nit said opening therein and including a stragsengaging gortion movable under saidrinclinedemrtion intojuxtapositiomW-ithlsaid shoul-- der; to; clamp, a strap.- against, said. inclined.- por-- tion: and; said shoulder, saidl shoulder; providin a ppsitive stoptos limitethez clampingmovementr of= saidframesunder; excess; tension, said; other. frame-having at front vcrossbar defining, the ,for-

ward; edg of t the. said ogening therein andlmove able undeia saiddront,cross;banof=said one frame,

8 tmazpositiomforwardly thereef; and gpide.-,mean&.-. on; said frames; diSDQSBdii substantially; entirely rearwardly of saidi openings fer: slida'blyymainr taming said: frames-inzsaid;faser o faoe;relations forsliding movement -insaid. pathx whereby; the;

clamping portions? of; said frames; forwardly: of; said guide; means are unrestrained, against limited lateral separation whenithe strapis .ten:-- sionem, said; two, front cross; bars.l having: rear;- wardly; curved; front. edges; and; being; of; laterali arsuateaformation;

- RAUL-Y W.. WHIZIIE.

References, Gited in, the. file: of; this, patent;

UNITED= EzTaNITESa 

